Turkish police have detained 36 people across 14 provinces in an investigation into an alleged network that arranged for women to travel abroad to sell their eggs, the DHA news agency reported on Monday, citing Justice Minister Akın Gürlek.
The investigation targets 53 suspects, including 41 women accused of selling their eggs, two obstetrician-gynecologists and four travel organizers. The women are being investigated along with the alleged organizers, although the breakdown of those detained was not disclosed.
Turkey prohibits egg donation and sales. Its assisted reproduction laws allow treatment only using the eggs and sperm of the married couple undergoing the procedure.
The İstanbul Anatolian Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which handles cases on the city’s Asian side, launched the investigation following a tip submitted through CİMER, a government complaint platform.
Prosecutors allege that the network arranged medical examinations in Turkey and, in some cases, medication before sending women to clinics in northern Cyprus, Albania and Georgia for egg collection. The women were allegedly paid for providing the eggs.
Investigators allege that the 41 women sold eggs on a total of 811 occasions. The announcement did not specify the period covered or how many medical procedures were involved.
Police examined financial records, bank transactions, communications and travel data as part of the investigation.
One suspect was already in prison. Police were seeking 16 others, including seven believed to be abroad.
The investigation concerns alleged criminal organization offenses, organ and tissue trafficking and violations of Turkey’s law governing organs, tissue and reproductive cells.
The law provides for prison sentences of three to five years and fines for prohibited activities involving reproductive cells or embryos, unless the conduct constitutes an offense carrying a heavier penalty.
Northern Cyprus, where some of the clinics allegedly involved are located, is a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state recognized only by Turkey.
